Chapter 75: Gao Yang: Uh-oh, Li Lizhi really wants to compete with me for Chen Yan!

「Lizhi, why did Zi An say that marrying you to Chong'er would harm you and harm the Longsun family? 」

Li Shimin immediately asked.

Empress Changsun also cast a doubtful glance.

Li Lizhi's goal was to get Father Emperor and Mother Empress to ask; seeing that both were already curious, she immediately wanted to explain.

However, just as she was about to speak, Wushe came in to report: "Your Majesty, Her Majesty, Princess Gao Yang is outside requesting an audience."

Li Lizhi's heart skipped a beat, and she suddenly had a bad premonition.

Li Shimin didn't think much of it and casually said: "Since Princess Gao Yang has come, let her in."

Wushe respectfully acknowledged, withdrew, and Princess Gao Yang slowly entered the hall.

「Your servant pays respects to Father Emperor and Mother Empress! 」

「Mm, no need for formalities. 」 Li Shimin said: "Since you've come, come over and try the food sent from your Zi An's residence."

「Your servant obeys the decree! 」

Princess Gao Yang naturally wouldn't stand on ceremony, slowly walked over and sat beside Li Lizhi.

Lizhi felt a bit guilty and changed the subject: "Princess Gao Yang, you should normally be studying needlework at this time; why do you have time to come here today?"

Princess Gao Yang gazed wistfully and said: "Elder sister, you may not know, but my appetite has been poor lately; the food sent from the Shangshi Bureau doesn't suit my taste."

「I've heard that 'Chen Lang' sends a meal to the Empress every day, so I wanted to ask Her Majesty if 'Chen Lang' could also send one to me. 」

Princess Gao Yang placed particular emphasis on the two words "Chen Lang".

She certainly didn't come here just because of a poor appetite.

Yesterday, when Li Lizhi personally saw Chen Yan out of the palace, many eunuchs and palace maids saw it.

Early the next morning, Princess Gao Yang got the news from Xiang Lan.

She immediately sensed something amiss, and upon learning that Li Lizhi had come to Lizheng Hall, she hurried over.

Li Shimin waved his hand and said: "Let's talk about these later; when I send someone to fetch the food later, just have Zi An prepare an extra portion."

He looked at Li Lizhi and said: "Lizhi, tell me."

"Why did Zi An say yesterday that you couldn't marry Longsun Chong?"

Princess Gao Yang:?

This time, it was her turn to have a bad feeling.

Li Lizhi...... Could it be that she really wants to compete with her for Chen Yan?

Princess Gao Yang's appearance interrupted Li Lizhi's prepared remarks, leaving her momentarily at a loss.

Even though she had made all the psychological preparations, facing Princess Gao Yang still made her feel nervous.

No matter what, she had ultimately developed feelings for Chen Yan.

From an emotional standpoint, she felt guilty toward Princess Gao Yang about this.

It made her instinctively not want to mention her contact with Chen Yan in front of Princess Gao Yang.

But, having already spoken those words, Father Emperor asked again, and she could no longer divert the topic.

She could only force herself to stay calm and say: "Yesterday, the Marquis of Weinan told your servant that, medically speaking, the bloodlines of cousins and first cousins are nearly identical, making them close relatives."

"If forced to marry, they will surely incur heavenly punishment!"

She changed "encur heavenly punishment" to "will surely incur heavenly punishment," naturally aiming to make Li Shimin and his wife realize the seriousness of the issue.

As expected, upon hearing "will surely incur heavenly punishment," Li Shimin and his wife were frightened.

Even if they doubted Chen Yan's gender, they would not doubt his medical skill.

Li Shimin asked: "Lizhi, Zi An's words shouldn't be just these, right? Please continue."

"I know that same-surname marriage is forbidden, but why can't different-surname cousins marry?"

"What exactly is this heavenly punishment?"

Since ancient times, cousin marriage has become commonplace.

Many aristocratic families, or the children of large clans, to stabilize bloodlines or draw closer relations, usually allow cousins to marry.

I've never heard of anyone incurring heavenly punishment.

Empress Changsun's face grew grave; she sat silently.

And Princess Gao Yang's bad premonition grew stronger and stronger.

Li Lizhi explained: "Initially, your servant had the same doubt as Father."

"The Marquis of Weinan told your servant that your servant's blood flows not only with Father's lineage but also with Mother's."

"For your servant, aside from different surnames, the bloodlines of paternal and maternal cousins are actually no different."

"The Marquis of Weinan gave your servant an example: In the Tang Dynasty, many men who marry into a woman's family have children who take the woman's surname; could such a man marry a paternal cousin of a different surname?"

As soon as those words were spoken, Li Shimin and his wife's expressions changed.

The answer to the question is simple; they all know it.

Paternal cousins certainly cannot marry.

According to Chen Yan's view, if paternal and maternal cousins have no difference in bloodline, then maternal cousins naturally cannot marry either.

Li Lizhi observed Li Shimin and his wife's expressions, seeing them sometimes frown, sometimes puzzled, and continued: "As for heavenly punishment, it manifests in the offspring."

"After close-kin marriage, the children born have a high probability of congenital defects or incurable diseases, making it difficult for them to reach adulthood."

"The Marquis of Weinan frankly said, if your servant doesn't believe, you may send people to investigate examples of cousin and close-kin marriage among the common folk."

"Then present the results to Father, and let Father issue an order forbidding close-kin marriage."

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin already realized the seriousness of the problem.

If what Chen Yan and Li Lizhi say is true, then this matter is no longer just about Li Lizhi's marriage to Longsun Chong.

But rather concerns the population growth of the Tang Dynasty and is a matter of national importance!

Now, what does the Tang Dynasty lack most?

That is undoubtedly population.

The Tang Dynasty is vast and resource-rich, but its population is really too small.

Speaking of land, does the Tang Dynasty lack land?

It absolutely does not lack it!

The implemented Equal-Field System allows adult males to receive twenty mu of permanent field and eighty mu of allocated field, totaling one hundred mu.

What the Tang Dynasty lacks most is people!

If the harm of close-kin marriage is truly that great, it will undoubtedly hinder the Tang Dynasty's population growth.

Li Shimin absolutely cannot accept it.

"Wushe!"

"Old servant is here!" Wushe, waiting outside Lizheng Hall, upon hearing this, hurriedly trotted inside.

Li Shimin rose to his feet, and in a deep voice said: "Go, let Li Junxian lead the Jinwu Guard to investigate the situation of the descendants of all those who married within the clan inside Chang'an City, and report it clearly to me."

"Notify Li Junxian; I must have the results before tonight's curfew!"

"Old servant obeys the order!"

Wushe dared not delay, and hurriedly ran out of Lizheng Hall to find Li Junxian.

Empress Changsun held Li Lizhi's hand, trembling continuously; she knew that Chen Yan was extremely skilled in medical arts, to the point that Li Shimin even called it immortal arts.

Saying such words is very likely true.

She and her husband almost pushed their daughter into a pit of fire.

Li Lizhi patted Empress Changsun's hand to comfort her, saying: "Mother Empress, don't worry; anyway, my matter with the Changsun cousin is not yet settled, nothing is decided yet."

"There are so many outstanding young talents under heaven; I need not worry about not being able to marry."

On the side, Gao Yang watched Li Lizhi warily.

As a woman, her intuition reminded her that earlier Li Lizhi had shown a guilty feeling when facing her; while just now comforting Empress Changsun, there was no regret about being unable to marry Changsun Chong, but rather her eyes were full of joy.

This is very wrong!

Gao Yang slightly narrowed his eyes, and that bad premonition in his heart reached its peak.

Oh no, could Li Lizhi really be trying to steal Chen Yan from her?

"......"